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In Their Own Words: Missy Geha

During the 2008 season, members of the Kansas soccer team will share their thoughts in the first person. Today senior midfielder Missy Geha describes her relationship with her sister, former KU star Amy Geha, and how she almost ended up wearing Nebraska red.

Geha started the first 59 matches in her KU career before missing the Big 12 Championship last season with an injury. She missed several contests earlier this season with an illness, but has been back in the lineup the last two weekends.

On how the team feeds off the midfielders:

“Coach (Francis) always says that the rest of the team plays off of how well the midfield plays. Having three or four girls that have played together for the last couple of years gives us a better opportunity to have a better flow in the system. We all know each other pretty well, because we’ve all played together for a few years. Jessica (Bush) and I have played together longer than that, so we really know our strengths and weaknesses pretty well.”

On the advantage of playing for several years with teammate Jessica Bush:

“With Jess and I, she knows me like she knows the back of her hand. And I know her really well too. We know each other’s personalities, we know our work ethics and we also know our tendencies on the field, where we’re going to be at certain times; so I think that’s a strong advantage for us. I think it’s simple, if you know somebody’s playing style, you know where they’re going to be at all times, you don’t even have to look. It seems a lot easier, but I think that’s true not only with Jess but Elfie (Erin Ellefson), Rog (Sara Rogers) and Geneva (Magness), because I played with all of them in high school.”

On her role on the team:

“Personally, I’m not a big talker. I’m not a very verbal person, so I try to lead by example. I’m a senior now, so I’m trying to lead as much as I can. I also try to stay as consistent as possible.”

On missing games earlier this season:

“I’m not quite where I was (physically) in pre-season. I thought I came into this season very fit; I worked very hard to come in ready for my senior year. My head was on straight. (After missing time), I’m still trying to get back into things. It’s going pretty well, but I don’t think I’m quite there yet. I’m getting there though.”

On what brought her to Kansas:

“Having my sister (Amy Geha) play here played a huge part, because I got to see inside the team and how it all functions. I wouldn’t have gotten to know the coaches as well. Going on recruiting visits and seeing other schools is great, but it only takes you so far. I really got to see how the University of Kansas works from day-to-day with the coaching staff and the girls. But I would say my sister’s influence had a lot to do with my decision as well.”

On the process of being recruited:

“I actually committed to Nebraska originally. And I had to tell Coach (Francis) that I had committed there, which was tough. But I think after a few weeks (during my junior year of high school), I realized that I didn’t really want to go (to Nebraska). I went through a whole ‘trying to get out of my sister’s shadow’ thing, even though I don’t think I really wanted to get out of it. I knew all along that KU was where I wanted to be, so I switched at the last minute.”

On her family’s reaction to her commitment to Nebraska:

“My parents supported me either way. When I told them I was going to Nebraska, they said ‘hey, we support you 100 percent, we can become Cornhuskers’. My sister, on the other hand, was not like that. She kind of had the attitude of, ‘go to KU or you’re not my sister anymore.’ She and I definitely had problems when I first told her I was going to Nebraska; she was not a fan. But I knew where she was coming from, because KU is obviously the best school to go to.”

On what influenced her soccer career the most as a youth player:

“When I was growing up, all I wanted to do was to be like my sister. When she was younger, she got a ton of media attention because she was really fast and talented. She was scoring goals all the time, and setting records, so I always looked up to her and wanted to be just like her. She definitely kept me going with the whole soccer aspect of life, which is a good thing because I love it. I’m glad that I pursued it. I also have a younger brother, Andrew, who plays on the club team at KU. There is soccer in the Geha blood.”

On what she will remember the most about playing at KU:“I’m probably going to remember how hard I worked. I can remember a few years that we had practices at 6 a.m., and I would have to be in the training room at 4:30. I now know the true meaning of hard work. I won’t forget any of (strength coach) Molly’s (McKinnon) workouts, or Coach’s (Francis) speeches when he’s upset. KU soccer has been a big part of my life for so long. Hopefully there are still some good times yet to come this year.”